eclipse Definition
eclipse (i klips′, ē-)
noun
- the partial or total obscuring of one celestial body by another, esp. of the sun when the moon comes between it and the earth (called solar eclipse), or of the moon when the earth's shadow is cast upon it (called lunar eclipse)
- any overshadowing or cutting off of light
- a dimming or extinction, as of fame or glory
Etymology: ME < OFr < L eclipsis < Gr ekleipsis, an abandoning, eclipse < ekleipein, to leave out, fail < ek-, out + leipein, to leave < IE base *leikw-, to leave > loan, L linquere
transitive verb eclipsed′, eclips′·ing
- to cause an eclipse of; darken or obscure
- to make seem less brilliant, famous, etc. by being even more so; overshadow; outshine; surpass
Etymology: ME eclipsen
eclipse Synonyms
eclipse
n.
eclipse Synonyms
eclipse Usage Examples
Preposition: of
- sun: A partial eclipse of the sun is also observed across the county.
- moon: A total eclipse of the moon was apparent at 11 p.m. Thursday 12 Got up about 8 o'clock.
Object
- plumage: At least one was a male in eclipse plumage, still distinguishable from females by the brilliant red legs.
- watcher: As well as eclipse watcher, Avebury's mysterious history attracted a group of UFO enthusiasts.
- binary: He suggested that Algol is what is now known as an eclipsing binary.
- moon: In a lunar eclipse the moon often adopts a coppery red color.
- sun: If Joseph's life were a storm, this period would be the clouds swelling up to eclipse the sun.
- viewer: Others saw it by using one of a variety of eclipse viewers provided for the event.
Converse of object
- predict: It also acted as an observatory, containing markers that enabled the Inca priests to predict eclipses, solstices and equinoxes ( 8 ).
- observe: I had never observed a total solar eclipse prior to August 11, 1999.
Adjective modifier
- lunar: Today's lunar eclipse could coincide with benefits coming your way.
- annular: The full annular eclipse was observed further north in Scotland.
- solar: I had never observed a total solar eclipse prior to August 11, 1999.
- partial: Partial solar eclipse visible from Orkney The clouds parted just long enough for a view of Monday morning's partial eclipse of the sun.
- total: I had never observed a total solar eclipse prior to August 11, 1999.
Modifying Another Word
- totally: Al-Rahman means THE Gracious - the one whose grace totally eclipses the grace of others.
- somewhat: The trouble is that the good people are somewhat eclipsed by others, their antics invariably getting into the local press.
- partially: But the role of both of them began to be partially eclipsed by events taking place barely a generation after Edward's papal canonization.
- completely: This fish completely eclipsed the personal best Matt had set only a week earlier!
- easily: Thanks to parallel processing, the human brain easily eclipses the performance of PCs.
Browse dictionary entries near eclipse
- ‹ eclecticism
- ‹ eclectic
- ‹ éclat
- ‹ eclampsia
- ‹ éclaircissement
- ‹ éclair
- ‹ Eckhart
- ‹ Eck
- ‹ ECI
- ‹ echt
- ecliptic ›
- eclogue ›
- eclosion ›
- ECM ›
- ECMA ›
- Ecma International ›
- ECN ›
- ECN Explicit Congestion Notification ›
- eco- ›
- eco-tourism ›

